My POWER with Buttons and Tilt Sensors
Instructor Notes:
Introduction
Two STEM From Dance instructors choreographed a routine to Beyoncé's "My Power," incorporating LED strip shoes equipped with different sensors. One dancer used a button sensor, while the other used a tilt sensor to control the LED lights. They created intentional footwork to activate each sensor, occasionally dancing in unison. The choreography blended elements of modern and hip hop, reflecting the instructors’ respective dance backgrounds.
Materials
Electronics
Supplies
Circuit Assembly
Dancer Code 1
Dancer Code 2
Subcomponents
The dancer uses short pieces of clear tape to secure the LED strip around her shoes.
One dancer places the button on the inner part of one shoe. She runs the extenders along both sides of her legs and places the microcontroller in her pocket.
The second dancer places the tilt sensor on the back of her shoe, near her heel.
The orientation of the tilt sensor is important since the dance will trigger certain positions/orientations more often than others. In this case, the tilt sensor is parallel to the shoe. When the shoe is flat, the tilt sensor is in its default state, and then when the shoe moves perpendicular to the floor, the tilt sensor will be activated.
There are different ways to handle the wire placement. In this example, one dancer attached long connector wires from the tilt sensor to the trinket, and kept the trinket in her back pocket.
The other dancer is wearing tight pants, places the trinket in their pocket, and wears baggier pants over it to hide the wires.
You can also tape the wires down with black tape to prevent the wires from flying out during the dance
